Revlimid is currently approved for patients with a specific type of MDS that contains a chromosomal abnormality called deletion 5q.

The phase 3 trial,which was reported at the 2014 American Society of Hematology, includes patients with MDS who do not have the chromosomal abnormality but have low-risk disease.

The purpose of the study was to find out if Revlimid could reduce the number of red blood cell transfusions needed by anemic (transfusion-dependent) patients with low- or intermediate-risk MDS without a deletion 5q chromosome abnormality.

Silverman says the study confirms that about a quarter of patients who do not have the deletion 5q abnormality can become transfusion independent, and the duration of treatment response is about eight or nine months.